Helen O'Connor Cottam, 87

Published: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.

HENDERSONVILLE— Helen O'Connor Cottam, 87, of Hendersonville, died on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at Memorial Mission Hospital. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Kenneth Cottam, her two brothers, Michael and Robert O'Connor and her sister, Joan Guilfoyle.

A native of Providence, RI she moved to New Jersey at the age of 16. She attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA and Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in New York. She went on to work as a legal secretary at Davis, Polk & Wardwell in New York City until her retirement in 1990. She faithfully served the company for over 40 years. In 1991 she and her husband retired to Hendersonville where she enjoyed an active social life including playing games of bridge and poker with friends.

She is survived by her two daughters, Glynis Riescher and her husband, Ray, of Duluth, GA, and Heather Adams and her husband, Brian, of Budd Lake, NJ; three grandchildren, Connor & Tristin Adams and Ryan Riescher; one brother, Joseph O'Connor and his wife Lois, of Camarillo, California, her sister in law Mary O'Connor of New Milford, NJ and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30AM on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. A private committal service will take place at a later date.

<p>HENDERSONVILLE— Helen O'Connor Cottam, 87, of Hendersonville, died on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at Memorial Mission Hospital. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Kenneth Cottam, her two brothers, Michael and Robert O'Connor and her sister, Joan Guilfoyle. </p><p>A native of Providence, RI she moved to New Jersey at the age of 16. She attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA and Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in New York. She went on to work as a legal secretary at Davis, Polk & Wardwell in New York City until her retirement in 1990. She faithfully served the company for over 40 years. In 1991 she and her husband retired to Hendersonville where she enjoyed an active social life including playing games of bridge and poker with friends.</p><p>She is survived by her two daughters, Glynis Riescher and her husband, Ray, of Duluth, GA, and Heather Adams and her husband, Brian, of Budd Lake, NJ; three grandchildren, Connor & Tristin Adams and Ryan Riescher; one brother, Joseph O'Connor and his wife Lois, of Camarillo, California, her sister in law Mary O'Connor of New Milford, NJ and several nieces and nephews.</p><p>A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30AM on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. A private committal service will take place at a later date.</p><p>In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to, Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund, PO BOX 95, Mendham, NJ 07945, sandynjrelieffund.org, or to Mission Healthcare Foundation, 890 Hendersonville Rd., Suite 300, Asheville, NC 28803, www.missionfoundation.org.</p><p>A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.</p><p>Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.</p>